Hidden away in the corner of Mid Valley Mall, opposite the training fields of legends (and Celebrities), lies a cozy shoppe where card duelists, board games masters and forerunners of epics converge. Whether you are a comic book geek or a hardcore offline gamer, you will find a home at Comics Mart.
The Appearance
The store is brimming pop art of various comic book characters and other memorabilia from tabletop games. There are board games stacked on each other, there are action figures elegantly displayed behind glass cases. Everything that would be in a geek's paradise, all in the confines of a cozy shop.
The Staff
The people who work here are extremely friendly and useful. They will help you out in your purchases or make sure that you have a comfortable visit to the store. Even if you are there just to play your card games, they will engage in friendly conversation to ensure your stay is entertaining.
The Products
Comics Mart offers a wide variety of board games and tabletop games. This place is also one of the few stores that sell Magic: The Gathering and Warhammer products. This wide variety would allow people of any age to fully appreciate this place.
The Community
The Magic: The Gathering community is a closely knit family with easy entrance. As long as you are playing the game and you talk, odds are you will be good friends with someone. This store allows players to trade amongst themselves. The store also conducts weekly tournaments which brings the groups together to play.
There are also plenty of other games played by regulars such as Dungeons and Dragon's Campaigns. However, I am not neither an expert or a regular participant in those events. TL;DR
Comics Mart is the place to be if you are in Mid Valley and are interested in offline gaming. 8/10
Sharing is Caring, Sean Wang
It seems that sugar and pies go hand in hand. Fret not, weary diabetics, because this pie is mostly sugar free. The only sugars are the natural sugars from the apples themselves.
Here's what you need:
6 cups Green Apples (Sliced)
2 pie crust/ puff pastry liners (You may make them youself if you have the time and means)
12 fluid ounces Apple Juice
3 tbsp corn starch
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
Now, the first thing you would like to do is to preheat the oven to 175 C. After doing that, while the oven is getting all nice and warm, whisk your corn starch, cinnamon and about 1/3 cup of apple juice into a sweet thick mixture. The key here is that the numbers don't really matter as long as your texture is not too thick and not too watery. You may add (or not) as much as you like and feel free to experiment.
Now, set that glorious mixture aside and start simmering your apples with all the remaining juice until it is nice and tender. This will probably take around 10 minutes. When everything is nice and soft, pour the mixture that you set aside into the pot and stir till the sauce is thick.
Remove from heat and spoon that baby into a nice pastry-lined pie plate. Seal it with another layer (You could do a little weave if you like) and make sure there are vents for steam to be released. You don't want a ex-pie-sion would you? (Sorry bad pun)
Bake your pie for 45 minutes or until the pie crust goes brown and serve it hot (or cold) with ice cream or whip cream.
Now, you've got yourself a nice pie recipe! Hope you can a-pie-se you ap-pie-tite. Sorry. Couldn't resist!
If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know what else you'd want me to teach you how to make or let me know what else you want seen on this blog!
Sharing is caring, Sean Wang
Cartoons are often deemed by the masses to be mainly a child-centric form of media. Funnily enough, cartoons were initially for adults. Despite this perception, Steven Universe is one of the better television shows, even when taking into account "adult" television shows of both live action and animated standards. The thing that this show does right is that it doesn't treat children like bumbling idiots who would consume everything thrusted upon them as long as it is colourful and fun. Even if kids will eat anything on a plate. This show tries to give a progressive outlook on life while not being too in-your-faces.
The Premise
The show is based around the life of the titular character, Steven Quartz Universe, who is the child of an ex-rockstar and a gem-based alien named Rose Quartz. Let's just say Rose... isn't around anymore. The show goes around with Steven's interactions with his city, Beach City, while protecting it with his mother-like figures, the Crystal Gems. They are Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl. In this narrative, there is a planet of gem-based organisms which take on a sentient illusory form in order to interact with others. As the show goes along, more is explained about this species, exploring social castes and biological marvels and even something called "Fusion". Yes, two gems can become a bigger gem. It sounds like something from an anime and yes, I would like to think this show has taken some inspiration from Japanese animation, in both the art style and story telling.
The Art Style
The art style isn't exactly the most special as it is rather simple in nature. However, as you grow with these characters, you start to appreciate them more. A really important thing to appreciate about the creator's art style is that each character actually looks very different from each other without being too abstract to the point of doubting their humanity. This is because the artists have chosen to create a culturally and physically diverse cast for the humans. And for the aliens, well, they made them humanoid but used colour and minor details to distinguish them from one another. Some of the characters even evolve in art as their characters grow through certain arcs (although I won't explain why or how as it would spoil it).
The Plot
There is actually an absence of plot during the first half of the first season and this show is filled with an awful lot of filler despite constant hiatuses. That may sound bad but instead of it being just pointless filler, each bit of filler actually advances character arcs or the plot, just by smaller magnitudes. The earlier episodes serve more as world building, allowing the audience to immerse themselves in this abstract yet grounded world. This show allows a sense of innocence as it is all through Steven's point of view. Everything is just seen as purer than our reality. This gives audiences a much needed break from the real world.
When the plot actually kicks up towards the second half of the first season, it goes down. When I say it goes down, it really goes down. There's action, there's drama, there's plot twists. It is a ride not only in story but in emotions portrayed.
The Soundtrack
Steven Universe has one of the hands down best soundtracks to a cartoon. Since most of their cast members are singers by profession, you could imagine how well everything is done when the characters get to sing. Listen for yourself and let me know.
The Message
For a kid's show, messages and morals are most important as it is what the children take from viewing this cartoon. This shows provides many important topics for children and even teenagers to contemplate. In certain cases, adults would also benefit from learning from this show. This show is extremely progressive. It is very rare to find a cast that is almost fully female, especially in a cartoon that isn't immediately a "girl's show". There are lessons taught in this cartoon that should be taught in schools. These would include consent, abusive relationships, mental health, racial diversity and cultural acceptance among many other necessary lessons for a kid to learn.
In conclusion
This show is a must watch for all audiences. It is an entertaining ride, giving you swift blows to your emotions at points and all while giving positive messages. 9.5/10
If you enjoy Steven Universe, you may enjoy Gravity Falls!
Sharing is Caring, Sean Wang
The Big Short, more like the big shots. Am I right? This biographical movie about business and financial crises boasts a rather impressive cast which includes Christian Bale (The freaking Batman!) and Steve Carell (A not-so-bad comedian). Brad Pitt and Ryan Gosling entered the fray as major characters too.
What kind of movie would attract these A-Listers? Especially, what kind of documentary-esque movie would attract such fame?
Well, The Big Short is a rather unique take on the financial crisis of '07-'08 where the housing market of America crashed and along with it, global economy. The premise alone wouldn't seem so promising if it weren't for the execution of the cast members and the writers involved.
Imagine Wolf of Wall Street humour if they focused it more on the crisis itself, rather the crisis that is Leonardo diCaprio. You've got The Big Short. Economical crises are extremely heavy subjects, so to be able to eloquently explain terms foreign to the fiscally apathetic, they got random yet useful celebrity cameos including Selena Gomez! The writers made the movie extremely lighthearted and digestable for those who have not picked up a paper and have not read the business section if they did. However, I would go for a second viewing to clear up some doubts because at some points, it was truly an information overload. However, the humour is entertaining enough that I wouldn't mind a second viewing.
There was also this heart wrenching back story for one of the characters who is an otherwise "prick" disillusioned by the system. I won't want to give up too much but it gets pretty sad.
So, it was well written, funny and at some points heart wrenching, I must applaud the writers and directors behind this movie. The actors all played their roles really well (Christian Bale is a really good actor since I thought it was actually Jim Carrey the whole time he was on screen)
So, now we know it was a good movie but what did I take from it. Basically, our economy is boned. The problem is that banks can be bailed out by the government by using tax payers dollars which could cause many people to lose their jobs and houses while the top percentage remain living comfortably.
Knowing the problem, we should acknowledge a solution. Self-sustainability. If all economic systems fail, in order to survive, the best way is to be self sustainable. If you can muster up enough money right now, to buy a small patch of land, organic seeds, a water purification system and some solar panels, irregardless of the economic outcome of the outside world, you might survive. What is most important is that you have enough food, water and shelter to live. Hell, in a world without a functioning economic system, luxuries would be meaningless and any excess supplies you have would be worth a mighty barter.
Anyways, this movie was really good. I would recommend everyone who has any interest in current affairs, the economy and our future should watch it. 8.5/10
Sharing is caring, Sean Wang
Ip Man, the master of the Dragon, has fought against Japanese Imperialists, Sammo Hung and now Mike Tyson? This movie is the 3rd movie in the Ip Man series and depicts the titular going off to defeat a corrupt developer and his thugs in order to defend his child's school.
Plot
The plotis okay. There isn't much to dissect from the plot as it is very simple. It is a straightforward fight between purity and corruption, the traditionalist ways of the Chinese versus the corrupt ways of the Gwai Lows (Foreign Devils). However, the sub plot, of Ip Man having to deal with family life was rather interesting as previous movies have showed how disapproving the wife was with Ip Man's martial arts and constant fighting but now that chapter has closed as they mutually accept each others needs. We also get to see a personal side to Ip Man as we see how he deals with tragedy and decides what is really important to him.
Action
Anyways, odds are, when you are entering the cinema for an Ip Man movie, you didn't come for the plot. You came for the action and let me tell you, the action was extremely well choreographed with Donnie Yen punching and kicking at light speed. The movie also gave us a treat with Mike Tyson actually getting into a fight and showing some actual fighting prowess despite being such a big softie in person. There was also a very interesting fight with a Muay Thai practitioner!
Soundtrack
The soundtrack runs the basic traditional chinese sound track throughout the movies. There isn't exactly a Williams score but it is okay.
Criticism
The movie could have been longer and some fight scenes should have been extended. I really would have liked to see more from Mike Tyson and more from the Muay Thai dude.
TL;DR
This movie is extremely enjoyable for all audiences even if you haven't watched any of the prior films.
I would rate the movie 7/10.
Sharing is caring,
Sean Wang
(WARNING: THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SMALL SPOILERS)
I guess it would be fitting for my first review in a long time to be something that has greatly affected me over the last few days of 2015, ushering in the new year. That would be Undertale.
What is Undertale?
Undertale is a game by Toby Fox and centers around a young human falling into a hole. In an Alice-in-Wonderland-esque style, the human discovers that the monsters that have been banished from the human world have thrived (or rather, survived) in this underground world. The child then interacts with the monsters and is destined to either be their saviour or the harbinger of doom. My thoughts
I would have to break down my opinions of this game into multiple facets for the sake of simplicity as I will break down every aspect of the game and provide my opinion. However, I will leave a tl;dr note at the bottom to summarise my thoughts. Gameplay
When you are playing a game, the first and foremost would be the gameplay itself. Undertale offers a rather different take on traditional roleplaying games (RPG). RPGs often focus on attacks, grinding, increasing levels and beating bosses. However, Undertale offers you the alternative of sparing the monsters you encounter by certain pacifying actions. These actions would include hugging, picking (or not picking) on, flirting (yes, you can flirt with a monster) and many more. Each monster has their own unique method of defeat via mercy. However, the game still allows you to take the traditionalist route of being a murderous badass at the cost of, well, you being a cold psychopathic killer. You monster.
Gameplay also consists of dodging bullets as the primary means of surviving combat. So, it isn't the traditional combat system of randomised damage counters based on multipliers and the like but rather the players dexterity as they bounce around dodging bullets. Different enemies have different attacks too so there may be some attacks which may be easy to dodge and some that are impossible to. Most of all, it shows that each monster, no matter how small and insignificant to the plot, provides a unique experience to the player.
Plot
If you are playing a game and it isn't for the gameplay itself, you are probably looking for a plot or rather the writing in the game. This means that you are interested in how the creator expresses himself and his opinions and most of all, you would be asking if it is a good story.
Well, it could be said that Undertale has been one of the most well-written games I have ever played. The story extremely involves your character's decisions. Anything you do in the game will be remembered by the game even after you reset your save file. For example, killing certain characters will unleash a certain slew of dialogue berating you for doing so in the next run through. Furthermore, actions that you commit to in the playthrough itself would have consequences. If you chose to spare all the monsters you meet, you may actually get to meet them in neutral areas. It is pretty heartwarming.
The humour in the game was actually pretty funny. The usage of a lot of puns and extremely meta jokes. By meta, I mean fourth wall breaking and self-referential humour. There are a lot of jokes referring to real world phenomenon such as the anime craze that every teenagers seems to go through (imagine slashfictions and yaoi).
The game may be funny and all but it will tug at your heart strings. During my first playthrough, my blissfully unaware self decided to play it just like any other RPG. Little did I know, the boss monsters that I fought... well, all I can say is that I cried before the title even showed up (Then again, I do have mother-related attachment issues and would get emotional in such situations).
Soundtrack
If you are fond of traditional video game music from the eras of Pokemon, Zelda and the like, you would appreciate the nostalgic yet somehow modern tunes of Undertale. One of my favourite would be Megalovania (below). It is upbeat but at some points you feel the dread as you realise your sins crawling on your back (Yes, this soundtrack comes from a less than favourable outcome but it is well worth the heart wrenching murdering).
My other favourite sound track would be ASGORE. It is a battle of epic proportions but with a sense of duty and restraint.
TL;DR
So, in summary, the plot is well written as it is both heart wrenching and humorous. The soundtrack is extremely pleasing to the ear. The game is very unique in its approach to the combat system and puzzle solving in general. I would rate it 10 out of 10 would play. Undertale is available on Steam for only $7.99 (Currently at 20% off) at this link
I hope you enjoyed reading and remember, sharing is caring. Share this with friends, encourage them to check out the game. If you liked reading, please give me some feedback so I can improve! Remember, every bit of your input will help me make better content for you to read.
Sharing is Caring, Sean Wang
Well, it is indeed 2016, a new year and a new me. Who am I kidding? Why should I change myself to suit society's standards? I am perfectly happy with who I am and I accept my flaws to improve further as a human being. There is no reason to completely omit who I am because I am me.
Anyways, I got quite sidetracked. What I mean to say is... I am returning to blogging. I noticed that I haven't had much practice writing and I thought that it would be nice for me to share stuff on this site again, especially since it has been rebranded (with a hopefully less-of-a-mouthful name) - Sean's Sharings ( sharingsean.blogspot.my as the link).
It is a brand new year and I believe that there will be plenty of new things to write about. There are a few good movies coming out in 2016 of the superhero genre. Maybe, if you stay tuned, you will get to hear my opinion on them. Also, listen up because I will be sharing with you anything and everything that interests me. Hopefully, you will enjoy what I enjoy.
Furthermore, I will be ecstatic if all of you leave comments or feedback on either facebook or this page because it encourages me to write more and I also get to learn from any mistakes made. Thank you very much!
I am a foodie who enjoys different types of entertainment. I hope to be a great writer one day, capable of sharing my ideas and opinion across the globe (and maybe the universe).
